The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1887-12-21
ONE CHRISTMAS.
BY OLIVE HARPER.


ssThat there Marthy Avery is the foolish
est critter that ever lived, l swan to mani
Here's her father dead, and she left with
all that brood of her stepmother's young
ones; and instead of sendin' 'em to their
grandfather she ups and says she is goin'
to support 'em herself She won't get my
Jabez IL that's her idec, for I'll just put
my foot down."
"Martha is likely girl
There's three gals and boy baby, and
they haint no call nor claim on her.
There's them as would make her good,
forehanded provider, but no man won't
take hull family ON his hands to onct.
It's bad enough marrying widders, but
nobody wants a lot of sickly young ones
a-eating up all the substance Of farm.
No, indeedr'
''Wall, you know, Mrs. Hemphill, Mar.
thy feels as if the children hes as good
right as herself to the farm; they was her
fathers.n
eyes; but he didn't make no will, and
the farm and the settini out was oil Mar
thy's own mothers, so nobody can't dis
pute her claim. Besides, what does aslip
of u girl like that know bout carryin' on
farm, I'd like to lSnowsa
"lt's too bad; but, as you say, she'll
find how hard it is to manage farm.
am greatly exercised for her, and I'll ask
the sisterhood to make her n subject Of an
address to the throne of grace, said Mrs.
Pringle as she give q little sigh, and
folded up her kitting to take her seat at
Mrs Hemphill's well FLIED tea table, for
she had ridden over to spend the after
noon and have a good visit.
T,1.o o4.lt nj
his father came in and took their aceus-
toned places, and the father asked very
long blessing, and reached his hand out
and captured biscuit at the same mo-
ment that he delivered his amen
Jabez was n handsome, frank young
fellow, who worked very hard and had no
i vices, but who possessed a fair share Of
manly virtues.
He found time, somehow, after the null
hilarious duties on farm were done to
study, and 10 slip over to the Avery farm
very often.
Being steady and handsome young
fellow, his mother naturally looked on
him with pride, and now she felt that she
was doing her duty rs II wise mother In
discountenancing such a foolish action on
Mnrthn's part as adopting her three little
half sisters and baby brother.
Meanwhile, Martha was working, as IL
her life depended upon 1t, over n refrac-
tory chhrning and her pretty face was
wrinlSed into n frown and her cheeks
famed crimson, and little sparks Of anger
seemed to shoot from her eyes that had
yet n suspicion of tears not far off.
She jerlSed the dasher with yindictiye
little movements, as il she wished she had
some particular person under the dasher,
and witral it did seem as If that butter
was bewitched.
81 don't wonder it won't come" said
Martha, Mt last. Hateful old thingl As
il | depended upon her, or as if wanted
her 'Jabez / guess | can manage a
farm; at any rate, / must try, for with
Gods help will take care of these poor
little children. Addic can help take care
of the others-and think she is cruel
Ohr'
This exclamation was brought forth by
the sudden sight OF Jabez, as he sprung
over the fence and walked into the well
kept kitchen without a word of warning
or invitation.
He walked directly up to Martha and
clasped both Of his hands around hers as
she held the ''dasher,n and said cheerily:
"Wcll, Martic, how are you? Here, you
sit down and let me do this, and can
look at you all the while, and that will
pay me for my work"